Artificial leg.



H. T. ODGER SV ARTIFICIAL LEG; APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3,1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

FY .2 Harry T (hiya/s lNVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES be swung UNITED s'rAtr n s g'rEN i- OFFICE HARRY T. ODGERS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBUS PHARMAGAL I -.COMPANY, OE COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed hugustB, 1908. Serial no; 446,519.

Y lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use-. ful Im rovements in Artificial Legs, of which the fol owing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in artificial legs, and comprises a device for use in connection with a leg formed with a pivot at the knee, so that the lower ortion may inwardly or outward y as nearly e after the manner of the natural as possib le My improvement provides a device, whereby, through the forward or rearward movement'of the shoulders of the wearer, the

lower leg member may be swung forwardly or marwardly as desired, and at the same time the pivot at the knee may be made firm enough to prevent bending of the leg when it is not desired.

The construction of my device is shown'in the accompanying drawings which are hereto attached and hereb made a part of this specification, in whic Figure 1 iswa side view of the artificial leg I with my device in place thereon; 2 is a front view; Fig. 3 is a rear view; F1g. 4 is a detail of the swin ing pulley on the lower leg member; Fig. '5 shows the leg in bent position.

same numeral indicates the same part throughout; 1 is the u per artificial leg member, having pivoted thereto at the knee 2 a lower leg member 3; on each side ofthe lower leg member at an ap ro riate point below the knee to produce t e everage desired, I position roller' constructions 4 and 5, each comprising preferably the plate 6 screwed or otherwise secured to the eg member at 7, and carrying the pin orpivot 8 thereon on which is mounted an arm 9, to swing freely forwardly or rearwardly; this arm 9 carries the pulley 10 mounted at 11 to turn freely; preferably, the arm 9 is divided, and between the same and member 12 thereof the pulley 10 is placed, whereby is formed a guide for the cord to confine the same to the said plulley. This construction enables the cord caring roller or pulley to swing forwardly and rearwardly as may be demanded during the manipulation of the lower leg i sired. The wearer, by

slight distance above theknee 2, are

19, and is then Referring to the drawingsin which the member in a manner hereinafter described.

On the'front ofthe upper leg member at a laced loop guides 13 and 13 whereby the cor is arranged formanipulation of the lower leg member in its forward movement. On the upper leg member preferably at the sides thereof, are placed rollersor guide pulleys in pairs 14 and 15 on each side there is mounted preferably a plate 16 upon which are mounted the pivoted rollers or guide pulleys 17, 18 to turn freely under the influence of the cord as hereinafter described. At the rear side of the upper le member there are placed loop guides 19 an 19 through which the'cord is adapted to pass and to be held in prop osition. v

ender 20 is provided, formed referably o the side strips 21 and 22 to be tted upon the shoulders of the wearer, and the cross strip 24, preferably at the back of the wearer; at theends of the side strips are provided hook or clas members 25, 26, 27 and 28 to each of Whic i is ada ted to be secured an end of the cords 29 an 30. The cord 29 is connected at one end to the hook 26, and

passes downwardly through the loo guide led between the vro lers 17 and 18, as shown, and then forwardly around the roller 10 on the lower leg member, and thence is brought upwardly through the loop guides 13 and 13 onthe front of the knee and thence is carried upwardly'to the hook.

on the Suspender 20. In a similar manner the cord. is led through the pulleys and guide on the other side of the artificial leg member. p

The operation of the device is as follows: The suspender having been placed over the head of the wearer and fitted u )on the shoulders, the cords which are preferably left in place upon the leg when it is detached, are secured to the ends of the-Suspender member; assume that the wearer is seated and the leg is in extended position; to bring the lower leg member to bent position, it would be necessary only to move the shoulders and upper portion of the body upwardly and rearwardly thereby exerting a stress upwardly and rearwardly upon the cords, the friction of the cords over the rollers or guide pulleys being sufficient to pull or swing the lower leg member upon the knee pivot in the direction deexpanding or contracting the chest and consequently elevating or depressing the shoulders, can readily en- 7 gage'the suspender or harness with the body and carry the same upwardly and forwardly or rearwardly as desired,.and it is the result of only slight ractice to manipulate the cords as desired through the movement of the shoulders and upper. body portion by the wearer.

66 By arranging the swinging pulley or roller on each side. of the lower leg member,- and passing the cord upwardly therefrom over the front of the knee, I provide for the use of.

an endless cord so arranged that it is readily manipulated, and unfailingly draws the lower leg member tq its'lengthened or straightened position; also, by the provision of the pair of rollers on each side of the upper leg member, between which the rear portion of the cord is passed, and by the further provision of the rear guide on the upper leg member, the retraction-or bending of the lower leg member is' rendered certain and easy. These results 7 are accomplished essentially by the provision of the swinging pulley on the lower leg memher and the arranging of the cord thereon over the front of the knee.

It is understood that there'is some difficulty in the manipulation of any artificial leg construction, and my improvements render it possible for the wearer by the movement of the upper portion of the body to swing the 'leg either forwardly or rearwardly. as desired, and to do it with such case and celerity as not to unduly attract. the attention of a spectator or attendant.

In the drawings and in the description, have set forth a construction and arrangement ofparts which accomf lish the object in mind however, I do not esire to confine pender member, and a cord secured at one end to'the rear side of said suspender member and led through said guide rollers and pulley memberson one side of said leg members and secured at its other end to the front side of said suspender member.

2. An artificial leg construction comprising an upper leg member, a lower-leg member adapted to swing forwardly and rearwardly thereon, a plurality of guide rollers placed at the sides of said upper leg member, a swing-- ing pulley placedat each side of the lower leg member, a guide placed on the front side of the upper leg member, a second guide placed on the rear side of the upper leg member, a

suspender member adapted to be fitted upon the shoulders-of the wearer, and a cord member'secured at one end to the rear side of said suspendermember and passing through said rear guide and between said guide rollers and around said pulley and upwardly over the knee through said front guide'and secured at its other end to the front side or portion of said suspender member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses- HARRY T. ODGERS. Witnesses:

F. A, ROSTOFER, 'SAM RICHARDSON. 

